Illuminated vanity case



1943- E. P. SCHREYER arm. 2,333,891

ILLUMINATED VANITY CASE Filed Jan. 22, 1942 Patented Nov. 9, 1943 OFFICE ILLUMINATED VANITY CASE Edward P. Schreyer and Karl Peters, Milwaukee, Wis; said Peters assignor to said Schreyer Application January 22, 1942, Serial No. 427,726

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in illuminated vanity cases.

It has heretofore been proposed to have vanity cases equipped with electric lights, but these prior constructions have been too bulky to be practical and have involved difllcult assembly work, rendering the cost of manufacture too high for this type of product.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an illuminated vanity case which can be manufactured at low cost and which isof such compact size that it may be readily supported in the palm of the hand and will also occupy a minimum of space in a lady's handbag.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction as above described wherein the entire electrical unit, including the bulb socket and battery, are formed in one unit positionable below the mirror and adjacent the hinge connection of the case, in the cover of the case, whereby the bulb throws a spotlight on the face of the user, which light is reflected back into the mirror.

A further object of the inventionis to provide simplemeans whereby the bulb is automatically illuminated when the case is opened and whereby the circuit to the bulb is automatically broken whenever the case is closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction as above described wherein there is an auxiliary cover for the battery and electrical unit, having an opening forregistration with the bulb, said auxiliary cover being swingable on a hingle common to the hinge for the case to occupy a position in the cover between the inner edge of the mirror and the hinge connection of the case.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction as above described wherein the cover of the case is formed, with guiding and positioning lugs and projections and is so shaped as to permit quick assembly of the mirror and electrical unit within the cover, without the use of tools with the parts held firmly in position.

A further object of the invention is to provide removably fitted thereover.

a vanity case construction wherein the base for the electrical unit is of wafer thinness, wherein the bulb socket is embodied as an integral part of a relatively flat contact strip; and wherein the cover of the case is recessed below the lower end of the bulb, to readily accommodate the same without increasing the thickness of the case.

-With the above. and other objectsin view, the

' invention consists of the improvedilluminated vanity case and all its parts and combinations j as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention, in which the same reference nuparts in all of the and electrical unit in position, the battery being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the mirror and electrical unit removed;

Fig. 5 is afragmentary'sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view on an enlarged scale showing how the circuit from the battery is broken when the case is closed; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the case in closed condition.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the case generally comprises a cosmetic section In and a cover section I I. hinged together as at [2. Each of these sections is in the form of a hollow shell and is preferably formed by molding from a plastic or an other suitable material.

The section Ill has a transverse partition l3 dividing the interior of the section into two compartments I4- and ii. The compartment I4 is adapted to hold a desired cosmetic such as loose powder l6, and when loose powder is contained in the compartment M a cloth screen Il may be A powder pufi [8 may be removably positioned over the screen l1.

Hingeclly connected as at IS on a line common to the hinge connection for the vanity case is an auxiliary cover 20. This cover 20 conceals the battery and electrical unit and is formed with a bulb opening 2|. The auxiliary cover is normally positioned as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

the portion which projects above the vanity case section II as shown in Fig. 2, is received in the compartment I5 when thevanity case is closed so that no material increase in thickness of the case is required in order to accommodate the battery and electrical unit. The compartment [5 also forms a space into which the auxiliary cover may be swung, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, when it is desired to open the auxiliary cover for access to the battery or electrical unit.

The auxiliary cover does not fit completely in the compartment l5, but rests on the shoulder ii to afford space therebelow for the projecting light bulb when the case is closed. (See dotted line position of Fig. 2.)

Referring to the cover section II of the vanity case, and more particularly to Figs. 2 and 4, the interior thereof is formed with a transverse rib 22 which divides the interior of the cover into two shallow compartments .23 and 24. Projecting into the compartment 24 from the rib 22 are lugs 25. Each lug is stepped to form a shoulder 28 and a shelf 21, and at the inner end of the shelf 21 is a guiding incline 28 leading to the bottom of the compartment 24.

Adjacent to the hing connection and opposite to the lugs 25 are stepped lugs 29 formed with shoulders 38 and with shelves 3|. Disposed substantially centrally of the compartment 24 is a bulb recess 32 which appears as a projection 33 on the outside of the case, as shown in Fig. 7. This projection 33 may be worked into the exterior design of the vanity case, as shown in Fig.

' 7, to enhance the appearance.

The side walls of the compartment 23 of the cover section II are provided with guiding lugs 34 which are spaced above the bottom of the compartment 23 as shown in Fig. 2. A mirror 35 may be slid into assembled position (when the auxiliary cover 20 is in the dotted line position of Fig. 2 and when the electrical unit is removed). In sliding the mirror into position it rests on top of the partition 22, and the edge 36 of the mirror is guided by the curved bottom 31 of the compartment 23 to the final assembly position of Fig. 2. When in this position the lugs 34 overlap the side edges of the mirror and maintain the same in position.

The electrical unit consists of a thin sheet 38 of fibrous insulating material to which metallic con tact members 33 and 40 are riveted. The contact strip 33 has an enlarged part 4i formed with a socket opening 42. The edges of the socket opening are formed with tabs which alternately project upwardly and downwardly as shown in Fig. 5. An upwardly projecting tab is designated by the numeral 43, and a downwardly projecting tab is designated by the numeral 44. The bent tabs form in effect a threaded socket for cooperation After the mirror and electrical unit are in position, the' auxiliary cover is swung to the fullline position of Fig. 2 until a latch 5i on the free edge of the auxiliary cover snaps beneath the inner edg of the mirror 35, as shown in Fig. 2. When the auxiliary cover is in this position, the upper end of the bulb 45 projects through the bulb opening 2! in the auxiliary cover.

The auxiliary cover 28 is formed near one end with an opening 52 which when. the auxiliary cover is in the closed position of Figs. 1 and 2 is approximately over the upwardly bent end 41 of the contact strip -48. One of the marginal edges of the opening has an inwardly projecting flange 53 (see Figs. 2 and 6) which engages the end of the battery to prevent longitudinal shifting thereof. I In the compartment ii of the vanity case section I8 there is a circuit-breaking lug 54 having a wedge-shaped upper end. This lug is so posi- I tioned that when the vanity case is closed it enters the opening 52 of the auxiliary cover 28 and forces itself wedgingly between the battery pole 48 and the bent end 41 of the contact strip to prevent the portion 41 of the contact strip from contacting the battery pole 48 when the vanity case is closed. This action is illustrated in Fig. 6. The circuit-breaking lug 54 is, of course. formed of material which does not conduct electri'city. It is obvious, therefore, that when the portion 41 to yieldingly engage the battery terminal 48 and complete the electrical circuit.

When the ,circuit is complete the current will flow from one end of the battery through the contact strip 48, yielding tongue 48, to the lower end of the bulb; from the outside of the bulb with the threads on the stem of the electric light bulb 45. Thus a socket is formed in the contact strip which does not necessitate an increase in thickness in the vanity case. i

. The lower end of the stem of the bulb 45 projects below the insulating sheet 38 and is accommodated in the recess 32 of the cover. The

lower end of the bulb also makes contact with a yielding finger 43 which projects from the other contact strip 48. One end of the contact strip 40 is bent upwardly, as .at 41, to normally contact,

when the vanity case is open, the pole 48 of a' small dry battery 49. Th opposite end of the contact strip 39 is also bent upwardly and in addition laterally as at 50 to yieldingly and electri- :ally engage the opposite end of the dry battery Theelectrical unit is inserted in position after the mirror 35 by sliding the front edge of the fiber sheet toward the lugs 25. This front edge will be guided upwardly by the lug inclines 28 into engagement with the shoulders 26 and beneath the inner edge of the mirror 35. The rear edge of the supporting sheet 38 will then rest on top of the shelves 3i of the lugs 29 and against the shoulders 30.

through the contact strip 33, bent portion 50 I thereof, to the bottom of the battery casing form- Y ing the other terminal of thebattery.

The case isdetachably held in closed position by cooperating snap latches and 58, and the opening of the case is facilitated by pressing inwardly on the sides of the case as at 31. j

\ The arrangement of the electric light bulb is such that when the powder containing section is held substantially horizontally in the palm of the hand with the fingers of the hand holding the mirror containing section at an angle, the bulb will be directed toward the face in such a manner as to throw a spotlight thereon, while the mirror is held in such a position that it may be used to assist in applying the powder.

- It is also apparent that the electrical unit and automatic circuit breaking construction is such as to provide for a minimum of parts to be accommodated in the case with a minimum of bulk. It is also clear that the ,electrical unit and mirror can be quickly assembled in the cover of the case without the use of tools, and that the electrical unit itself can be completely assembled in a convenient manner before installation in the vanity case. The arrangement is also such as to permit an inexperienced'user to easily replace the battery or light bulb.

Although only one form of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that various changes and modiflcationsmay be made without departing from the spirit o1! the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

' e,aas,ea1

What we claim is:

1. A vanity case comprising two hinged together sections, one of said sections having a transverse rib and having side wall lugs positioned toward the free edge of the section from said rib, a mirror supported on said rib and beneath said lugs and being removable by sliding movement, the inner edge of the mirror terminating short of the hinged edge of the section, and an electric light unit positioned between said rib and the hinged edge of the section,

2. A vanity case comprising two hinged together sections, one of said sections having a transverse rib and having side wall lugs positioned toward the free edge of the section from said rib, a mirror supported on said rib and beneath said lugs and being removable by sliding movement, the inner edge of the mirror terminating short of the hinged edge of the section, and

an electric light unit positioned between said rib and the hinged edge of the section and overlapped by the inner edge of the mirror.

3. A vanity case comprising two hinged together sections, a mirror in one of said sections having its inner edge terminating short of the hinged edge of the section, means for elevating the inner edge of the mirror from the bottom of the case section, lugs on the case section bottom beneath the inner edge of the mirror, and an electric light unit including a thin base sheet having an edge slidable into position beneath the inner edge 01 the mirror and into engagement with said lugs.

4. A vanity case comprising two hinged to gether sections, a mirror in one of said sections having its inner edge terminating short or the hinged edge of the section, means for elevating the inner edge of the mirror from the bottom of the case section, stepped lugs on the case section bottom beneath the inner edge or the mirror, an electric light unit including a thin base sheet having an edge slidable into position beneath the inner edge of the mirror and into engagement with said lugs, saidlugs having an inclined portion for guiding the edge of the base sheet onto the steps of said lugs.

5. A vanity case comprising two hinged together sections, a mirror in one of said sections having its inner edge terminating short or the hinged edge of the section, means for elevating the inner edge of the mirror tom the bottom of the case section, lugs on the case section bottom beneath the inner edge of the mirror, an electric light unit including a thin base sheet having an edge slidable into position beneath the inner edge of the mirror and into engagement with said lugs, and positioning lugs cooperable with the 

